A Filipino care worker has been jailed for seven months after admitting to sexually assaulting a 77-year-old woman who was trusted in his care.

Reagan Ugat Tion, 43, from the Philippines, had originally been charged on Tuesday and had pleaded not guilty to committing violent indecent assault at the woman's home in Żebbuġ.

However, the man had a change of heart since then and appeared this morning before Magistrate Aaron Bugeja to plead guilty to the charges brought against him.

The court heard how the police had been called in to investigate the man after CCTV footage from her residence showed the man groping the elderly woman.

He had been employed by the woman through an agency and had known the victim for less than an hour when the offence took place, the court was told. The elderly woman is now in her relatives’ care.

Magistrate Bugeja sentenced him to seven months’ imprisonment.

Inspector Kylie Borg prosecuted. Lawyer Fransina Abela was defence counsel while lawyer Jason Grima appeared parte civile for the victim.

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